I love shopping at Overstock.com. I have bought various things from them over the years - cordless phones, a computer keyboard, little things here and there. Some of the deals can’t be beat, you just have to look for them.

However, I hate their new TV ad campaign. With a passion. I hate how the spokeswoman talks in this ultra-soothing voice, telling us all that, “It’s all about the Ooooooooo.” Seriously leaves you wondering what she is trying to pitch, doesn’t it?

I thought maybe that was just an issue I had with the commercials, but last night at dinner my Dad asked, “What is that commercial with the big ‘O’ for?” I told him that it was for Overstock, and his response? “Oh, I thought it was maybe for some porn company!”

Maybe that is their point? I don’t know. I just don’t get it.

I suppose it is wrong of me to sit here and listen to Andy Gibb sing “I Just Want to Be Your Everything” over and over again, isn’t it? I could at least launch Rhapsody and listen to some of his other music. Or go and get a Bee Gees CD and listen to that. Instead, same song - over and over.

Man, he was a hottie. I was going to marry him when I got older.

Oh, admit it. You wanted to marry Andy Gibb too. Or if it wasn’t Andy, it was someone else - who was it for you?

WHEEEEE!!! Notice anything different? I’ve been Moxie-fied! This has been in the works, but we weren’t ready to launch it, which is why the snow angel stayed in place as long as it did. Isn’t it ADORABLE? Christina is absolutely fabulous to work with - mad props to her! She’s my hero. Seriously.

Plus you have GOT to love a girl that offers up some high quality Andy Gibb mp3s. Mmmmm… Andy Gibb. Wasn’t he delicious?

Ok, focusing back on the design thing … skins are coming back! And I’ll work on converting some of the old favorites to WP skins and making them live again. Let me know if you have any requests - Venice, Dark Gray, whatever.

Mmmmm… it’s so PINK!

It is quiet around here. So quiet, you could hear a pin drop. Not that I don’t have things going on, but they all seem so … routine. I guess I should not complain about that though.

I went downtown yesterday for a doctor’s appointment. Every time I go downtown, I’m surprised how much I miss it. How much I love downtown. When I was a little girl, I told my Mom that all I wanted when I grew up was an apartment, a cat and a motorcycle. I think I should have added that I wanted an apartment in the city - I always love the downtown feeling.

For the record, I have two cats, I have lived in a suburban apartment, and riding a motorcycle scares the crap out of me.

While in downtown yesterday, I saw a Yellow Cab minivan with the funky spinning hubcaps. While I’ve threatened to put them on my Honda (can’t you just see me with spinning wheels?), they looked really out of place on a Yellow Cab minivan. If I hadn’t been half-way through the crosswalk when I spotted them, I would have taken a picture.

I finished Kathy’s scarf the other night and started one for Kymberlie yesterday. I’ll try to take photos of them to share soon. It is very soothing to make them. I signed up yesterday for knitting lessons at my LYS (local yarn shop) - classes start Tuesday morning!

Send a picture of your bubble tea, send a picture of the boba floating in your tea, and send it on to Boba Fate to receive your fortune. We don’t need no stinkin’ tea leaves. [via Meredith]

Almost makes me want to go back to Tropioca with Kathy to get some Bubble Tea. Almost. Not quite there yet.

I used a ThermaCare heating pad on my shoulder the other day, and while it worked well, I couldn’t help but think every time I looked at it that it looked like I had a feminine hygiene product on my shoulder. Mmm… fresh as a springtime blossom…

I was tempted to complain about the weather and how it is freakin’ cold here again (it’s now 40 and it was 80 the other day), but then I turned on the news. Then I read a few blogs. Yeah…

I think I’ll shut up and not complain about our near freezing temps after all. It could be so much worse…

I just discovered this free RSS to HTML PHP Script. I’m all about the free, and it looks like it could be useful for some future project.

Speaking of projects, last night we went to Kathy and Tom’s house, and I was smart and brought the yarn I bought to make Kathy a scarf. Her sister was the inspiration for the first scarf I crocheted, so the I’m making the second one for her. It’s a cream colored chenille, the pr0n star of yarns because it is “Thick and quick.” While watching Harold & Kumar Go to White Castle (Unrated Extended Edition), I managed to crochet about half of the scarf, even while laughing - that movie was pretty damn funny. Two thumbs up. (Two crochet hooks up?) I hope to finish the rest of it today while spending some time in the car.

I already have requests for future scarves - can I just tell you how happy that makes me?!? Wheeee!!! Crocheting for others is FUN!

Off for a day full of crafty goodness. It’s going to be a busy weekend, but I can’t wait!

I work from home. For the first time in many years, I should not have to worry about the annual crud that seems to go around this time of year. I should be safe.

Am I safe from it? Nooooo…

Mike and Jason seem to think it is nice to pick these things up and bring them home to me. Don’t they get that I want to be crud free? And then Mother Nature screws with me too, changing the weather from 40 degrees to 75 degrees to 34 degrees to 80 degrees at a whim. Damn it, damn it, damn it.

I woke up with sticky eyes, a stuffy nose, and a chunky feeling throat. This sucks. And I don’t even get to call in sick to work or share the crud with any of my co-workers. Man…

I’m all set. I finally found where I put my “Stitch ‘N Bitch” book - right on the bookcase where I could easily find it, and then couldn’t find it for 2 weeks. (It was by the CDs, the only book there, and sort of hidden behind the side of the bookcase, and Mike couldn’t find it either when I enlisted his help.)

While my SnB book was missing, I found a copy of “Knit Wit” at the store and picked it up - only to discover that it focuses on the Throw Method. Great. Conflicting instructions. Oh well, everyone says to try both and one will just feel more “right” than the other. Plus there are some cute patterns in the Knit Wit book.

I have knitting needles. They were on sale at Hobby Lobby this week for 40% off, so I have needles in aluminum, plastic and bamboo. May as well cover all my bases, right? Especially at 40% off! I picked up both a size 10 US and a size 8 US, just to have a little variety.

I have yarn. Nice, basic, worsted weight yarn. Nothing fancy about it at all - it’s the cheap stuff ($1.99 for a giant skien, on sale) so that when I screw things up and just want to pitch them I don’t have to feel bad about it.

I have three episodes of Knitty Gritty saved on the TiVo. Their first episode goes over, slowly and clearly, how to do the basic knit stitch. They even have the KnittyCam, where they show the work from the angle of the knitter - which was a huge help. It was good to be able to see it from that view, see how it works up. They had the author of “The Knitter’s Companion” on the show giving instructions, and I found that book on clearance at Hobby Lobby, so I picked up a copy.

Yep, I think I’m all set. I’m ready to knit.

But just to be safe, last but not least, I found a book on clearance that has complete details on how to convert a knitting pattern to a crochet pattern! (Called “From Needles to Hook: Complete Guide to Converting Knit Patterns to Crochet“) So if I never learn to knit, I can still make cute stuff! Because somewhere deep down I’m convinced I’ll never be able to knit. I really, really, really want to know how to knit, but will I be able to? Not so sure. I’m going to give it a try though, and I hope I can do it!

I have started a “Five in ‘05″ group for the The President’s Challenge. If you log in 5 days worth of activities for 6 out of 8 weeks, you will earn the Presidential Active Lifestyle Award. Not only that, but I’m going to figure out prizes to send to people along the way too! If you would like to join the group, the ID number is 26501, and select your own username on the group page - something easy to remember that I can identify you by also. (For example, I’m listed as “Christine” - make sense?)

NOTE: If you join, please leave a comment here with your member ID so I can match up who is who - it seems that even as the group admin, I don’t have a way to contact you through the website. Eep! I need to be able to contact you if you want motivational prizes along the way!

Come join us in working out and getting fit! You can do it!!!

Every time I watch The Amazing Race I wonder … why do they continue to use the completely non-scary tiger in the opening credits? Because that was probably one of the lamest challenges to date. Those tigers were in a coma. The one and only tiger that even moved is in the opening credits still, and it makes me laugh every time.

Speaking of scary, I am going to hunt Jonathon down someday and kick his psycho ass. Then I’m going to bitch-slap Victoria for putting up with him and whining too often. Hell, put Jonathon in the opening credits - he’s much scarier than that damn tiger. Especially when he takes his shirt off. Hello? No one else is running around Europe without a shirt; take a hint, Jonathon.

WARNING: There could be spoilers in the comments. If you’re like me and normally watch shows days after they originally air, consider yourself warned.

US laboratory proposed weapon to stimulate homosexual behavior.

“One distasteful but completely non-lethal example would be strong aphrodisiacs, especially if the chemical also caused homosexual behavior,” the proposal pointed out.

Proving once again that some people think you can just turn the gay switch off and on again. At least they don’t consider the homosexual behavior to be lethal.

“Everything I really need to know about life I learned by reading banned books.”

My Mom called me last week to ask what books are banned. I said, “a lot of good ones.” That seemed like an insufficient response though, so I thought I would look up some of the banned books (from the American Library Association) and post them here. I’ve highlighted the ones I have read. Be sure to celebrate your freedom to read from September 24 - October 1, 2005! (It seems only appropriate that since I love to read, banned books week falls right on top of my birthday!)

Which banned books are among your favorites?

The 100 Most Frequently Challenged Books of 1990-2000:
1. Scary Stories (Series) by Alvin Schwartz
2. Daddy’s Roommate by Michael Willhoite
3. I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings by Maya Angelou
4. The Chocolate War by Robert Cormier
5. The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn by Mark Twain
6. Of Mice and Men by John Steinbeck
7. Harry Potter (Series) by J.K. Rowling
8. Forever by Judy Blume
9. Bridge to Terabithia by Katherine Paterson
10. Alice (Series) by Phyllis Reynolds Naylor
11. Heather Has Two Mommies by Leslea Newman
12. My Brother Sam is Dead by James Lincoln Collier and Christopher Collier
13. The Catcher in the Rye by J.D. Salinger
14. The Giver by Lois Lowry
15. It’s Perfectly Normal by Robie Harris
16. Goosebumps (Series) by R.L. Stine
17. A Day No Pigs Would Die by Robert Newton Peck
18. The Color Purple by Alice Walker
19. Sex by Madonna
20. Earth’s Children (Series) by Jean M. Auel
21. The Great Gilly Hopkins by Katherine Paterson
22. A Wrinkle in Time by Madeleine L’Engle
23. Go Ask Alice by Anonymous
24. Fallen Angels by Walter Dean Myers
25. In the Night Kitchen by Maurice Sendak
26. The Stupids (Series) by Harry Allard
27. The Witches by Roald Dahl
28. The New Joy of Gay Sex by Charles Silverstein
29. Anastasia Krupnik (Series) by Lois Lowry
30. The Goats by Brock Cole
31. Kaffir Boy by Mark Mathabane
32. Blubber by Judy Blume
33. Killing Mr. Griffin by Lois Duncan
34. Halloween ABC by Eve Merriam
35. We All Fall Down by Robert Cormier
36. Final Exit by Derek Humphry
37. The Handmaid’s Tale by Margaret Atwood
38. Julie of the Wolves by Jean Craighead George
39. The Bluest Eye by Toni Morrison
40. What’s Happening to my Body? Book for Girls: A Growing-Up Guide for Parents & Daughters by Lynda Madaras
41. To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee
42. Beloved by Toni Morrison
43. The Outsiders by S.E. Hinton
44. The Pigman by Paul Zindel
45. Bumps in the Night by Harry Allard
46. Deenie by Judy Blume
47. Flowers for Algernon by Daniel Keyes
48. Annie on my Mind by Nancy Garden
49. The Boy Who Lost His Face by Louis Sachar
50. Cross Your Fingers, Spit in Your Hat by Alvin Schwartz
51. A Light in the Attic by Shel Silverstein
52. Brave New World by Aldous Huxley
53. Sleeping Beauty Trilogy by A.N. Roquelaure (Anne Rice)
54. Asking About Sex and Growing Up by Joanna Cole
55. Cujo by Stephen King
56. James and the Giant Peach by Roald Dahl
57. The Anarchist Cookbook by William Powell
58. Boys and Sex by Wardell Pomeroy
59. Ordinary People by Judith Guest
60. American Psycho by Bret Easton Ellis
61. What’s Happening to my Body? Book for Boys: A Growing-Up Guide for Parents & Sons by Lynda Madaras
62. Are You There, God? It’s Me, Margaret by Judy Blume
63. Crazy Lady by Jane Conly
64. Athletic Shorts by Chris Crutcher
65. Fade by Robert Cormier
66. Guess What? by Mem Fox
67. The House of Spirits by Isabel Allende
68. The Face on the Milk Carton by Caroline Cooney
69. Slaughterhouse-Five by Kurt Vonnegut
70. Lord of the Flies by William Golding
71. Native Son by Richard Wright
72. Women on Top: How Real Life Has Changed Women’s Fantasies by Nancy Friday
73. Curses, Hexes and Spells by Daniel Cohen
74. Jack by A.M. Homes
75. Bless Me, Ultima by Rudolfo A. Anaya
76. Where Did I Come From? by Peter Mayle
77. Carrie by Stephen King
78. Tiger Eyes by Judy Blume
79. On My Honor by Marion Dane Bauer
80. Arizona Kid by Ron Koertge
81. Family Secrets by Norma Klein
82. Mommy Laid An Egg by Babette Cole
83. The Dead Zone by Stephen King
84. The Adventures of Tom Sawyer by Mark Twain
85. Song of Solomon by Toni Morrison
86. Always Running by Luis Rodriguez
87. Private Parts by Howard Stern
88. Where’s Waldo? by Martin Hanford
89. Summer of My German Soldier by Bette Greene
90. Little Black Sambo by Helen Bannerman
91. Pillars of the Earth by Ken Follett
92. Running Loose by Chris Crutcher
93. Sex Education by Jenny Davis
94. The Drowning of Stephen Jones by Bette Greene
95. Girls and Sex by Wardell Pomeroy
96. How to Eat Fried Worms by Thomas Rockwell
97. View from the Cherry Tree by Willo Davis Roberts
98. The Headless Cupid by Zilpha Keatley Snyder
99. The Terrorist by Caroline Cooney
100. Jump Ship to Freedom by James Lincoln Collier and Christopher Collier

(Hmmm… there are a lot that are not highlighted - I guess I have some reading to do!)